The Tri-City Regional Port District will construct an additional 9,600 feet of track for a new rail line at the port's southern harbor near the McKinley Bridge, as part of an overall expansion of the port, the Belleville, Ill., News-Democrat reports.

The South Rail Loop project is being made possible by a $6-million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program, or TIGER, grant from the Maritime Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The grant will not only fund the new railroad track but also 10 levee relief wells that the port has cited as integral for the new intermodal hub and will protect the port from flooding.

This grant will fund construction of the expanded railway. Tri-City Regional Port District Executive Director Dennis Wilmsmeyer said additional funding would be needed for the new inland harbor.

The total expansion project will cost more than $23 million. The state of Illinois has already committed $4 million toward the project, and the port district has just submitted a request for another TIGER grant, which he anticipates will account for the remainder of the needed funding.

"The port district is very fortunate and very grateful to have received funding and support of this project," Wilmsmeyer said at a groundbreaking ceremony held on the site of the south port. Other dignitaries on hand included state and county officials, U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

Costello said the rail project is one of three in the state funded by federal TIGER grants. He said the development would help spark further economic activity at the port district for the region.

"What we look forward to is not only completing the south loop rail but also the harbor that will be right behind us so that we can service not only this facility here but a number of other businesses that may locate here in the future," Costello said.

LaHood said the local port grant was part of $1.5 billion provided by the federal government. He said $60 billion in projects were requested.

"Many of the projects could not be funded, not because they were not worthwhile, but because we ran out of money," LaHood said. "And because Congressman Costello personally called me and told me what value this project has for this region of Illinois, we became aware of it and took a very, very close look."

Work on the new railroad will begin immediately and will provide another means to transport mostly dry bulk goods, like grain, to and from the port, Wilmsmeyer said. Construction of the new harbor would take about two years, once funds have been received.

The Tri-City Regional Port District transfers in excess of 3 million tons of product annually between river barges, railcars and trucks, and generates $10 million in revenue annually.